Slaughter of animals for public entertainment — impact still felt to this day

The total number of animals killed during the Colosseum’s 400-year history probably ran to more than a million. And that was just the largest of some 230 amphitheatres scattered throughout the Roman Empire

A Barbary lion baby explores its enclosure at the zoo in Neuwied, Germany. The Barbary lion is one of the largest lion sub-species. This big cat can measure one metre in height at the shoulder and up to three and a half metres in length. Average weight can be up to 230 kilograms. Picture: Thomas Frey/dpa via AP

The truly brave bull gives no warning when he charges, except the fixing of his eye upon the enemy — Ernest Hemingway in Death in the Afternoon

I took my grandchildren to Rome last week on what used to be called an ‘educational tour’. Their questions about The Eternal City came thick and fast.